A West Country hospice charity has warned a huge shortfall in its finances could threaten the specialist end-of-life care it provides. Dorothy House, which operates across an 800-mile patch covering Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire, has been hit by rising costs, including the recent hike to employers’ national insurance contributions and the minimum wage. It also said “stagnant” government funding was having a “major impact”.
Last year Dorothy House cared for more than 3,000 patients and 1,000 loved ones free of charge. But the cost of running the hospice has risen from £46,000 a day three years ago to £52,000 a day now. The charity’s core services include the specialist inpatient unit in Winsley, in Wiltshire, and its community palliative care teams visiting people’s homes.
“Now, more than ever, we need help to ensure people can die with dignity,” said Wayne de Leeuw, chief executive of Dorothy House Hospice Care. “We urgently need the support of our community and the government to ensure we continue offering the specialist care and support that our patients and their families deserve.
“No one should face death alone and yet this financial gap places huge pressure on our workforce to make difficult decisions about who can receive our care, at a time when we want everyone to have equal access to our specialist support.”
Despite government plans for a one-off cash injection – and major fundraising efforts from the charity, including a zipline challenge in Bath – Dorothy House is still facing a financial shortfall of £1.9m. It is appealing to MPs, local influencers and the community to help highlight the situation.
Emma Lynham, a Dorothy House patient, added: “Everyone dies at some point. But that doesn’t necessarily make it any less scary. It makes me think if this hadn’t been there, how much harder this journey to death would be. I couldn’t have done it. My family couldn’t have done it without Dorothy House.”
Dorothy House is appealing for supporters to donate to its Adversity Apeal, visit one of its 27 shops, run a fundraiser or attend an event. It has also called on people to write to their local MP to secure a national settlement that meets the increasing demands of an ageing population.